Vol. 39, No. 30
PO Box 603, Wabash, IN 46992 (260) 563-8326
of Wabash County Inc. October 5, 2016
www.thepaperofwabash.com Proudly Serving Wabash County Since 1977
MSD invites local districts to discussion By Emma Rausch emma@thepaperofwabash.com
Youngsters from the Wabash City Schools District play with a giant banner on Friday during the “Walk Into My Future” event at Manchester College. Photo by David Fenker
Youngsters get taste of college life By David Fenker david@nmpaper.com
NORTH MANCHESTER — Nearly 1,200 elementary school students from Wabash and Whitley counties attended Manchester University’s 4th annual “Walk Into My Future” event Friday, Sept. 30. More than 200 MU students led the visitors through a variety of activities designed to teach them more about college and get them excited about the possibilities of higher educa-
tion. During a brief break from activities, the students heard from Manchester University President Dave McFadden, Director of Community Outreach for Parkview Health Curtis Smith, and Wabash County YMCA CEO Clint Kugler. “I’m going to say, ‘I’ve got what it-’ and you’ll answer with what?” Kugler asked. “Takes!” was the reply. “Right! You all have what it takes to go to college,” he said.
“Walk Into My Future” is part of the Wabash County Promise, which helps give children opportunities to think about and save for their futures. At school registrations throughout the county, children in kindergarten through third grade were invited to open CollegeChoice 529 Direct Savings Account as part of the Wabash County Promise. The event took place in MU’s Physical Education and Recreation Center due to rain. (continued on page 15)
The MSD of Wabash County School Board will be formally inviting Wabash City Schools and Manchester Community Schools boards of education to a tri-partite executive session to discuss topics including declining enrollment, feasibility studies and consolidation. The MSD Board unanimously approved the recommendation to invite the other two county school
districts at its meeting Tuesday night, Sept. 27. The Board originally considered a recommendation to invite Wabash City’s Board to the discussion until MSD Board Vice President John Gouveia advised that the board should expand the invitation. “I’d rather put it on the table, I’ve got a motion for an invitation to all school districts in the Wabash County for a tri-partite discussion on the issues of declin(continued on page 15)
Small Business Revolution web series premieres By Joseph Slacian jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com About 150 people filled the Historic Eagles Theatre on Tuesday evening, Sept. 27, for the premiere of the first two episodes of the web-based series
about Wabash. The series, which was filmed over this summer, was one of the prizes the city received for winning first place in Deluxe Corporation’s Small Business Revolution. (continued on page 21)
County celebrates state’s Bicentennial By Joseph Slacian jslacian@thepaperofwabash.com
Mother Nature tried, but she couldn’t dampen the spirit of Wabash County residents on Wednesday, Sept. 28, as they gathered along the county’s roadsides to celebrate Indiana’s 200th birthday. The Indiana Bicentennial Torch made its way through the county Wednesday afternoon, traveling from LaFontaine to Wabash to North Manchester before ending in Paradise Spring for a brief ceremony featuring state and local officials. Mayor Scott Long received the torch in LaFontaine and, with police escort, rode with it on the Wabash County Trolley No.85. Long left the Trolley in
front of the Wabash County Convention and Visitors Bureau office on Main Street. From there, he walked and ran it up Miami Street to Hill Street where he passed it off to Natalie Unger, the second of 16 torchbearers. “It kind of really set in as I started out along the Miami Street hill that this was a part of history that we were creating,” Long told The Paper of Wabash County. “I only made it three quarters of the way up the hill, but that’s pretty good for an old guy.” Torchbearers made their way along Miami Street to Harrison Avenue and then to Wabash Street, stopping at O.J. Neighbours Elementary School where Michael Beauchamp handed the torch off to North Manchester businessman
Brady Burgess. Burgess rode the Trolley to North Manchester, where he disembarked on the edge of Manchester University. From there he ran to near the Jo Young Switzer Student Union Building where he passed the torch off to MU President Dr. Dave McFadden. In North Manchester, the flame made a stop in front of the home of former Vice President Thomas Marshall for a brief ceremony. The Peabody Singers performed songs including “Back Home Again in Indiana” as part of the ceremony. Winding its way through the town, Manchester High School teacher Jabin Burnworth eventually passed the torch to Wabash businessman Sam (continued on page 16)
Manchester High School teacher Jabin Burnworth celebrates being a torchbearer for the Indiana Bicentennial Torch Relay. Photo by Joseph Slacian